Tie and fastener



J. G. BENNETT.

TIE AND FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1919.

1 ,333,894. I Patented Mar. 16, 1920..

WITNESSE$ IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Fasteners, of which the following UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JAMES G. BENNETT, OF SN OQUALMIE, WASHINGTON.

TIE AND FASTENIER.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JAMEs G. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residingat Snoqualmie, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ties and 1s a specification.

This invention relates in general to railroad ties and has for its principal object the production of'eflicient means for securely fastening rails. in engagement therewith,

without danger of the fastening means becoming loose or allowing the rails to be spread or to be otherwise displaced.

Another object of this invention is the production of a fastening device for railroad ties which includes a plurality of looking plates for each rail, the plates being constructed to accommodate rails of different sizes and to be finally secured in an accurately adjusted position to firmly hold. the rails in place.

Another object of this invention is the production of a tie wherein'a plurality of obliquely extending grooves are provided adjacent each end thereof to receive slidable locking plates thus allowing a rail to be positioned transversely of the tie to extend partially across the grooves whereby the locking. frames may be finally drawn into a binding engagement with the rail base whereupon the integral plates ofthe locking. plates may be bent to anchor the locking plates against displacement.

One practical form of construction and assembly of the present invention will'be hereinafter described and is illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tie and fastener, the rails being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tieand the fastening means thereon,:a portion of a rail being shown fragmentarily.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the locking plates.

In the preferred embodiment of the pres ent invention about to be specifically described, it will be seen that the tie 5 is of elongated construction and is preferably rectangular in cross section to provide the usual flat supporting surface upon the top thereof. It is preferred that the tie be formed of metal, preferably of the pressed steel type,

[lip 11 is formed on the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 16, 192 0- Application filed March 31, 193. Serial No. 286,258.

although other forms may be employed and is provided with enlarged openings 6 extending therethrough to not only lighten the construction of the tie, but to also minimize the quantity of metal used in connection therewith and to also allow the tie to have a certain degree of resiliency as is the case with Wooden ties to tend to absorb vibration. The tie is provided with obliquely extending grooves 7 in the top surface thereof, it being noted that the grooves are arranged in pairs adjacent each end of the tie. The grooves of each pair extend parallel to each other and have inclined side walls 8 for purposes to be hereinafter described. The locking frames are similarly constructed and for this reason attention is invited to Fig. 4 wherein the construction of one locking plate is illustrated. The frame consists of a base 9 having slanting side edges 10 whereby when the locking plate is moved into a groove the construction of the side walls of the groove and'the side edges of the base 9 will be of a dove-tail nature thus preventing the locking plate being pulled upwardly from engagement with the inner portions of the-grooves. A rail engaging upper surface of the base 9, this lip extending upwardly and inwardly to engage the base ofthe' rail'in the usual manner. elongated plate 12 is formed on one end of the base 10 it being noted that the plate 12'is' considerably thinner than the base 9 whereby the plate may be'easily bent as indicated.

in dotted lines in Fig. 4: when the plate is being locked in a set position.

WVhen in operation thetie 5 is placed upon the road-bed in the usual manner and at. this time the rails 13 may be placed thereon to extend thereacross as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the-rails-being spaced at'the proper dis-- tance apart to be of standard gage. Since the grooves 7 are counter sunk'below the upper surface of the tie 5, and since the bases 9 of the locking plates are substantially the same thickness as the depth of the grooves A comparatively thin I of above the base of the rail.

distances apart but as the locking plates elongated construction of the locking plates it will be seen that the tie and the fasteners thereof will accommodate either heavy or light rails for when the lips are farthest apart, comparatively heavy'rails may be ac commodated although by drawing the lips nearer to each other by sliding movement of the locking plates through the grooves, the lips will be brought to grip a tie having a comparatively small base. At this time since the lips should be binding upon the rail base, it will be seenthat the plates 1'2 will be extending for a considerable distance beyond the side portions of the tie. A suitable implement, such for instance as a hammer may be employed for tapping one end of the base 9 of thelocking plate to bring the lip 11 thereof into a binding engagement with the rail base and then this implement maybe employed forstriltin the outer portion ofeach projecting plate 12 causingthe plate to be bent from a horizontal position as shown in the several figures of the drawing until the plate extends substantially at 7 right angles to the base 9 of the locking plate and engages the side surface of the, tie. Therefore, the manner in which the plate is bent prevents the locking plate from being accidentally retracted and passing away from the rail base and outwardly from the groove carrying the same, while further movement of the locking plate toward the opposite end of the groove will be limited by the binding engagement of the lip there- Owing to the elongated construction of the comparatively thin plate of each locking plate it will be seen that a very accurate adjustment of the locking plate can fraction of an inch which would not be true if screws or other securing elements are passed through the locking plate into suitable receiving pockets in the tie, which obviously would not provide a very accurate adjustment. Also since the grooves are countersunk in the upper surface of the tie, the bases of the locking plates may easily gage be had into the smallest move into the grooves below the bases of the rails until the lips firmly engage the bases of the rails, whereupon the projecting ends of the plates 12 maybe struck and bent to enthe side surfaces of the tie thus firmly retaining the plates in an accurately adjusted position to firmly retain the rails against creeping or spreading or other displacement.

The construction set forth enables the retention of rails either of a main track or of a switch or upon trestles or in any place desired since the ties or supporting structures may be provided with grooves in which the locking plates may slide.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawing have reference to what might be considered to be the preferred or approved form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera,as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claim.

bases whereby said bases may moveinto said grooves until the lips engage the rail resting upon the tie, the construction of said walls holding the locking plates from upward displacement and said comparative thin portions being adapted to be struck and bent to engage the side surfaces of the tie to hold the locking plates from. moving in one direction while the lips engaging the rail will prevent movement in the other direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

, JAMES e. BENNETT.

Witnesses O'r'ro' REINIG, DEAN Wnscrovna. 

